A Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure to widen the sinus cavity and reduce the severity and frequency of sinus infections. During the procedure, your sinus specialist will numb your sinuses, insert a small balloon catheter into your nasal passages and inflate the balloon to unblock your sinus cavity.
Although the procedure is less invasive than other sinus surgeries, you still need to take a few care steps to ensure a smooth recovery. Let’s look at a few of those steps below.
1. Don’t Overstrain Yourself
Following your Balloon Sinuplasty, you need to rest at home for 24 to 48 hours. You should avoid blowing your nose and engaging in strenuous exercise or heavy lifting during the rest period.
2. Irrigate Your Sinuses
Your sinuses need to be rinsed regularly to reduce your risk of infection during recovery. Grab a specialty squeeze bottle or Neti Pot from your local Atlanta drugstore and fill it with warm saline—some stores sell saline packets that you mix with distilled water at home. To irrigate your sinuses, pour the mixture into one nostril while tilting your head to the opposite side. The mixture should run through your sinuses and out the other nostril. Repeat on the second side and spit out any saline that runs into your throat.
Your specialist will give you specific instructions on when to start irrigating your sinuses following the procedure.
3. Run a Humidifier
Georgia gets pretty humid, so this might not be necessary, but if you run an AC unit in your home that brings the humidity below 40%, run a humidifier to counteract the dry air.
4. Lower Exposure to Irritants
Air pollution, smoke, allergens, perfumes and strong cleaning products can irritate the already inflamed tissues in your sinuses.[1] While it’s always smart to avoid irritants, pay extra attention to your exposure in the days following your Balloon Sinuplasty.
5. Drink Plenty of Water
It’s easy to get dehydrated in the summer. Unfortunately, dehydration can also aggravate your sinus tissues. Aim for eight glasses of water a day, more if you’re exercising or spending time in the heat.
6. Don’t Skip Follow-Up Appointments
We use follow-up appointments to measure the success of your Sinuplasty and the speed of your recovery. Attending your appointment is the best way to ensure you see the best possible results from your procedure. For more questions about the recovery process, contact ENT of Georgia North today.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Sinus pressure. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24690-sinus-pressure